Stuck 9mm case

[LiveLife]

Yesterday I was sizing some 9mm cases and had several get stuck. Never had it happen before. I was using Lee carbide dies, with no lube.

I use Lee carbide sizer for 9mm and have not stuck a case. I have also never lubed pistol brass. And I am pushing almost 500,000 pistol rounds reloaded in 380/38Spl/9/40/45ACP/45LC.

I tumble my brass in walnut media treated with NuFinish and residual polymer on brass surface seems to help with resizing not to mention keeping brass from tarnishing.

 

[Walkalong]

I also started lubing 9MM cases, but to save my old shoulder these days. I used to consider it good exercise for my throwing arm, up until age 58ish. I have been lubing an occasional case with RCBS Case Lube II with my fingers as I pick them up, but I'm ready for them next time.

 

[someguy2800]

I am a big fan of hornady one shot lube. After figuring out through experimentation the correct way to apply it I use it for everything, even forming wildcats.

For 9mm I put about 500 in a gallon ice cream pail and mist over the top of them. Then just shake and stir them a fit and it distributes it from rubbing on each other. You have to repeat this if you let it sit for a couple hours. The one shot evaporates. Actually that's one of the reasons I like it, after a day all the lube is gone, even on heavily lubed rifle cases. No need to wipe or post tumble brass.

 

[Dudedog]

When I dry tumbled I used Flitz case polish, always left the cases feeling a little slick.
Now that I do most brass in the wet tumbler I use car Wash and Wax a citric acid.
No issues with stuck cases using pistol brass, rifle gets lubed with lanolin/alcohol (Dillon/Frankford)

 

[billybob44]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lubing-straight-wall-handgun-brass.832620/
^^^See this thread for case lube--YES even with Carbide Dies..Bill

 

[LiveLife]

So what are we doing wrong for those of us who are able to size pistol brass without lube? Is it more of an issue for those who wet tumble?

Use of NuFinish with walnut does make things more slick ... I guess you could call residual polymer on brass "lube"

Not changing my practice after 25 years and almost 500,000 rounds ... Just saying.

 

[LiveLife]

I am curious about one thing though.

Has anyone done bullet setback test with lube vs no lube?

 

[jmorris]

I don’t have any quantitative ft/lb information on the subject but I have shot hundred thousands rounds of 45, 40 and 9mm that had lubed cases with bullets seated in them, without issue.

There is nothing “wrong” about not lubing pistol cases, I didn’t for years. Someone mentioned it to me once and I figured he was nuts, so I tried it. Like many others once you try it and feel the difference, you keep doing it.

If you already have lube, it doesn’t cost much to try it and know for yourself.

 

[LiveLife]

Looks like I need to pick up some One Shot and do another "Myth Busting" thread on bullet setback.